Monday, 15 June 2009

Gone Fishing...

Well not me obviously...we decided to go to Shaldon, Pete wanted to try out his new fishing rod, and I decided it would be nice to potter around the beach, and look for `treasure`. We parked up, and set off for the beach, past the nice little pond where the Gunnera have grown huge, and the carp and goldfish slid beneath the greeny water.

down the smugglers tunnel..

and down onto the red sandy beach.

It was lovely and hot even though it was quite early, and the beach was deserted, so we set up camp.

Pete got on doing all the technical things men do, when they fish, and I decided to explore.

I rolled up my jeans, and walked along the sea shore, the water was lovely and cool, and it was nice and peaceful, apart from the odd parrot screech, or Monkey whoop, which is a bit disconcerting considering its a Devon beach, but theres a little zoo the other side of the looming red cliffs, and perhaps the inhabitants were looking forward to their breakfast...

There was some rather nice `treasure` laying on the beach, and soon my bag was `clinking` with various pretty stones and things. I did pick up a rather splendid curvy shell, only to turn it over and find there was someone at home, eek.... a nice set of legs was protruding from the hole, and fidgeting a bit, so I popped it in the sea....

There were lots of pretty flowers growing along the beach, Moon daisies, Queen Annes Lace, Mints and Samphire. I walked back to camp, and we had a coffee and scone, and I had a quick read of the paper, then much refreshed decided to walk back to the village and look around.

Teignmouth, across the water was just waking up, and looked pretty in the morning sunshine.

The old rowing boat planter at the head of the village looked very pretty filled with flowers

and on the beach, all the little boats awaited their owners.

Shaldon is a very pretty little village, and it has some really lovely houses..

fondant pink ones...

some with Pansy borders..

some with pretty tiled walls..

and of course, the odd olde Inn..

The path twists and turns, down little alleyways, with glimpses of the river, till you end up down by the bridge...

The sky looked abit dark and threatening, and the sunlight was shining on the far hills.

Down here beside the river, the houses are very large and beautiful, the roses in the garden were so pretty..

and the Poppies, a riot of scarlet..

At the end of the road is St Peters church, I was pleased to see the door open, as I`ve never been inside before...

I was absolutely amazed to see how beautiful it was, this lovely rood screen, with the marble base, and all the saints across the top..

There were two lovely marble angels guarding the Altar..

The apsidal sanctuary walls are set with lancet windows fitted with stained glass, quite amazing

I loved this little carved figure on one of the pew ends, of the choir stalls.

The pulpit is quite wonderful made of black, salmon, blue-grey and greenish grey marble. The ornately carved columns around the pulpit are made of Beer stone.

The font was beautiful too, made of white marble and a figure of St John the Baptist bearing a clamshell to hold the water, very unusual. Its a lovely church, and I really enjoyed walking around it.

Out into the sunshine again, with the noise of children playing in the nearby school playground. Past a rather nice tea shop...

and pretty little thatched cottages...

with cats on the roof...

and pretty little cottage gardens...

and smart little affairs with shutters...

and every little space filled with flowers, shrubs, trees..

I walked down a little alleyway to the heart of the village, where there were some lovely Begonia towers..

and at the end, the village green, bright with geranuims.

and the clock hung with bunting..

I walked back to the beach, enjoying the glimpses of the secret gardens behind the fancy wrought iron gates...

with the constant screeching of the baby gulls on the roofs ringing in my ears...it was a lovely walk, in a very pretty traditional village.